Can body flanging machine



April 19, 1932. .H HERMAN;

` CAN BODY FLANGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

A oEYs.

April 19, 1932. H; HERMANl .1,854,170

CAN BODY FLANGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 4. Sheets-Sheet 2 April 19, 1932. H, HERMAN.

CAN BODY FLANGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m@ m mm M Vr m. m l A w 4Y B 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. HERMANI Filed Aug. 11, 1928 April 19, 1932.

CAN BODY FLANGING MACHINE j lll Nl sra'res ies TEEN?? HENRY'HERMANI, 0F BALTIMORE, IVIARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIN DECORATING' l COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, OF BALTIMORE, LARYLATD, A CORPORATON OF NEW JERSEY CAN BODY FLANGING MACHINE Application filed August 11, 1928. Serial No. 298,993.

This invention is an improvement in can body Hanging machines, and more particu larly in machines for simultaneously `forming laterally and outwardly bent flanges at the ends of a tubular body.

In the manufacture of cans, tubular bodies are flanged outwardly at each end, and heads are connected to the flanges by seaming the heads thereto. This necessitates the prior formation of the lateral ilanges.

One oit' the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a machine of the turret type operating continuously, and having means in connection with the turret i'or seating successive can bodies, and other means moving therewith for expanding the can body ends and afterwards `flattening the expanded ends to form the lateral iianges.

Another object is the provision of means to feed from a magazine of superposed bodies, successive bodies to the turret.

Another object is the provision oi means in connection with the turret and operated by the movement of the Hanging mechanisms into operative position for centering the cans with respect to the langi-ng mechanism, wherein such centering mechanism engages 'bo-th ends of the bodies.

Another object is the provision of expanding mechanisms, simultaneously open atin o on the opposite ends Aof the bodies held by the turrets, while the bodies are trave-ling with the turrets.

Another object is ythe provision in ksuch mechanism of means to first expand the ends, and to afterwards flatten the expanded portions to provide a flange extending at substantially right angles to the axis of the body.

Another object is the provision of a machine of lthe character specified, relatively simple in construction, and operating ante-- matically to receive 4the can bodies from the magazine yand to deliver them in flanged condition. i

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in `the construction and novel Ycembination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in lthe accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and miner details of construction within the scope oi' the claims, may be resorted to without departin Jfrom the spirit of the invention.

ln the drawings Jforming a part hereof Fig. l is a longitudinal section of the improved machine.

is a secticn on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. is an enlarged vertical section at the tom of the magazine with the parts in one position.

il: is a detail in section of the magazine bottom with the parts in another position.-

5 is a side view oit Fig. fi.

lli 6 is a detail in horizontal section at the level of one of the pins.

Fig. 7 is a detail in plan showing the locking mechanism in ope-n position. c

Fig. 8 is a front view of one of the langing devices with parts in section.

Fig. 9 is a detail in horizontal section at the level of one of the flanging mechanisms.

Fig. l is an enlarged detail in vsection at the iiangi-ng mechanism sho-wing the comple'-V tio-n of the operation.

ln the present embodiment cf the invention a suitable frame orftable il is provided, in which is journaled a power shaft 2, having a pinion 3 enga-ging a gear 4l keyed to thehub of a pinion on a stub shaft 6, and the pinion meshes with a gear 7 on a shaft 8, which is journaled in brackets 9 and l0 mounted on the table.

The bracket 9 is Xed with respect to the table, and the 'bracket l0 is adjustable 'there on. This bracket has a lug il extending thro-ugh a slot l2 in the table top, and the 'lug has a threaded opening to receive a threaded shaft 13 journale'd in bearings 14 and lsion the underside of the table. The outer end of the shaft is polygonal as show-n, to receive a wrench or the like to turn 'the shaft, and lthe shaft is held `from longitudinal movement by collars l5 on opposite sides of the inner vbearing 14, and a similar collar 16 at the outer side of the outer bearing 14a.

A turret 'is mounted on the shaft 8 interlmediate the `brackets 9 and 10.` The turret includes split wheel, ycomposed of similar sectionsl, each having avhub engaging the shaft, and the sections l? abut at their adjacent faces, or are separated from each other, in accordance with the height of thc can which is to be operated upon. "in TEig. l, the sections are shown abutting, to operate on a relatively short can body, while in 3, they are shown separated by a filler l8, te enable the machin-e to operate on a relatively hing can body.

Each section l? is )inned to a wheci '1.9 keyed to the shaf' 8 at the outer side of the section, by means of the pins 2O wnich p i through openings in the hubs of the sections 17 and engage registering openings in the hub of the wheel 19. EaciL section has seats 21 in its peripheral edge, and the seats register to receive a can body indicated at 22, of tubulaiformation, and in the present instance oval in cross section. A pair of centering` arms is secured to each section 17 at each of th seats. That is, there is provided a pair o centering arms at each face of the turret fo each seat. The members of each pair ar connected to the section by means of a. bolt and nut 2li. The bolt is passed from the inner side of the section l), a id the head is countersuni; in the inner face of the section. The arms, as shown in Fig. 2, lap at their inner ends, and the lapping ends are journaicd on an arb-or 25, which in turn is mounted on the bolt 24e. Thus the arms may swing toward and from each other, and they are nornially urged apart at their free ends, that is, into inoperative position by a spring 26 arranged between the arms, the arms being recessed to receive the spring as shown.

At the seats, the adj acent edges of each pair of arms are recessed as shown at 27 to fit a can body 22, and in no 1mal conditions, the spring 26 will hold the arms open. TWhen operating upon longer cans, a filler, such as that shown at i8 in Fig. 3, is a 1ranged on the shaft 8 between the sections l? of the turret. The `filler acts to space the sections l? apart, and necessary adjustment of the wheels i9 is enabled by the movable bracket i0.

The can bodies are fed to the seats in succession fr m a magazine supported by a pluraiity of pairs of shafts or rods 28, which are supported by the brackets 9 and 10, at the tops thereof. The members of the pairs are in alinement, and the adjacent ends of the pairs are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the length of the can body to be operated upon. Each pair of rods supports a magazine section 29, the sections being sim ilar, and being held in spaced relation by the rods. Channel plates 30 are mounted on the inner faces of the magazine sections, and the can bodies 22 extend between the channel plates, and lie one above the other in the magazine, as shown in Eig. 2. They are delivered one by one to the turret by the mechanism shown in Figs. 8, ii, 5 and 6. This mechanism includes a rocker 3l arranged below each magazine section. Each rod carries a pair of pins 32 and 38, the pins being at the ends of the rocker, and each rocker is pivoted intermediate its ends, as shown at 84, to a block 85 supported by the adjacent magazine section 29. These pins extend through openings in the channel plates 30, as shown in lig. Ll, and they are spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the long axis of the cross section of a can body.

The pins operate in the manner shown in Fig. 4, in which figure, it will be noticed that the lowermost pins 38 support the lowermost can body by engaging within the open ends thereof. Vihen now the rockers are rocked, the pins 33 will be withdrawn, enabling the lowest body to drop, while at the same time the uppermost pins 32 will be eX- tended into the ends of the succeeding body. The y rockers are operated by slides 35a, which are mounted in guides 36 connected to the respective magazine sections.

Each rocker has a pin 37 engaging a notch 38 in the adjacent slide, and a spring 39 is arranged between each slide and the guide in a recess in the guide. The springs act to move the rockers to the position of Fig. 3,

which is the normal position of the rockers,l

and they are moved into the position of Fig. t, by cams i0 supported in a manner to be presently described, the cams engaging rollers el on the slides.

The shaft 8 is rotated continuously, and as each seat receives a can body, 1t movesv on in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2, and the flanging operation on the ends is commenced. The ends of the bodies are eX- posed, and a pair of tlanging mechanisms corresponding in number to the seats, in the present instance 8, is supported at opposite sides of each seat, the said mechanisms being carried by the wheels 19 before mentioned.

Each of these mechanisms includes a head 42, having a hub portion 43, received in a bearing it in a slide i5 supported in a groove i6 extending longitudinally of the wheel on the periphery thereof, and the hub is held in the bearing by a set screw 47. The cam L.i0 before mentioned, is secured to the outer face of the head. A fianged ring 48 is secured to the inner face of the head, and the iiange of the ring overlies the inner face of the head in spaced relation from the periphery thereof to a selected distance from the center. This arrangement leaves the inner face of the head exposed by a. circular opening 48a somewhat greater than the cross section of the can, as shown in Fig. 8.

A plurality of expander sections is mounted between the head and the flange of the ring, and each section is movable radially with respect to the head. A spring i9 is arranged between each section and the ring, each spring acting normally to force the section inwardly. The inne-r ends 'of the sections are concave as shown in Fig. 8, to vcorrespond Wirth the periphery of the can body held in the seat, and the inner end -ofeach section is enlarged, as shown at 5l, the enlargement extending .on both faces of the section. At the ends ofthe enlargement the sections are beveled as shown -at 52, and in normal position, the beveled surfaces are in substantial contact, so .that the enlargements 50 form an Aova'lcorresponding to the cross section of the can body.

Before the expander vcomes into operation as an expander, the centering arms 23 .of the seat are vmoved into the `operative position at the left .of the magazine'in' Fig. 2. rlhe centering movement of the varms is provided for by a pa-ir of latches 53 on the adjacent head. The Ylatches of each pai-.r have inwardly eX- tending cam surfaces 54, and the latches are adapted to enter openings in the arms, the cani surfaces 54 acting to force the arms together into centering relation on' the can body.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it Will be noticed that the channel plates extend lovv enough so that the turret moves between them, but the flanges of the channel platesare out away. Vith this arrangement, when a can `'body is dropped into a seat, it is carriedi out laterally from `the :lower end of the magazine, and as the Hanging heads move toward the turret, the centering arms are looked on the ends of the can body. Further inward movement of the heads causes 'the `enlarged portions 50 of fthe expander sections to .engage with the end of the body. v

Referring to Figs 19 iand l0, :it will be seen Lthat the enlargements 50 which extend on both faces 4of the expander sections are stepped the ends adjacent to the turrets as shown at 56, and -when the sections are in normal position, I.these stepped portions of the sections will enter the end of the can body as shown in Fig. .9.

The sections are expanded by means of a cam head 57 von the inner end ofza sectional shaft '5S-53a journaled in the hub 43 vbefore mentioned, `and yin a bearing 59 on the slide rThe outer section 58a .of the shaft has its inner end reduced Ias shown at 60 to .en-

gage within an `axial opening in the inner section, andthe sections are pinned `together as shown. A flange 6l is provided at .the outer end of the inner section 58, and a-spring` 62 is arranged between the flange and the hub 43, the spring acting to normally force the shaft outward. A roller 63 is journaled on the outer end of ythe outer section and it is yadapted to engage a cam G4 on the bracket l0.

Then the roller engages theeam, the shaft 5B-58a will be forced toward the turret, and the head 5'? will force the expander se"- tions outward. Referring to Figs. 9 and l0, it will be seen that rthe inner faces of the enlargements 50ers beveled izo-cooperate with When the can bodies have traveled with the turret something more than 180., the centering arms are opened by the withdrawal of the latches v53, and the dan-ged body 'is released. A discharge vchu-te 63 is .arranged at this poi-nt for receiving the Ibodies and di- :recting Athem to a suitable place of disposal.

rThe entire operation `,of the improved machine is automatic, the bodies being .delivered to the turret, flanged, kand discharged from the turret, by mechanism .operated .by the rotating movement of :the turret..

The operation of the improved machiiueis as follow-s. lilith a supply of can bodies in the magazine -and .the shaft 3 notatinfg, as each seat in .the turret moves into position Vbeneath :the magazine, ythe lowermost .can

body is released and drops into the seat. As f the turret moves onward, the slides 45 begin to move inward, and the latches 53 opera-te the centering arms to ,center the body, L'and further movement .of v.the slides locks thearms in centering position. The 'locking means is composed vof v'pins 69 ion the .fl-ange .of fthe ring 48, which engage openings 70 near the free ends of the arms.. iVhen the head-s are at the ends of the can body, theexpander heads 5? are moved inward, by 'the engagement of the roller A63 with vthe cam 54, and the eXp-ander sections are :moved outward, to `expand .the ends of .the body, that is,- =to vbend the material at the ends outward. Continued 4movement.of the heads causes the inner end-sofztheenlargements 50 on the expander .sections .to press .the outben-t ends into -`close Contact .with `the .cen-v tering -arins `as an anvil, and .the .ontleent portions at thefends of the body .are flatened into positions at substantial right angles .to .the :anis 'of .the body.. As the turret moves onward, the heads are withdrawn, the expand-` heads .57 being first released. lThe withdrawal of the heads releases the centering arms, which open and the body is discharged into the chute 68.

It will be apparent from the description that the improved machine includes -a conveyor provided i fith seats for the bodies,and Hanging mechanism moving with the convey'or and operated by the movement thereof,

and that the said lflan-ging mechanisi-n includes means Ato form an abutment .encircllsiang the can ibodyaa't a selected ldistance fromthe end, and that this means as Imoved :to ope-rative position Iby :the movement of the :cooperative .flanging .means into operative po-sition. The centering arms provide the abutment, and they are moved into position to cooperate with the expanding and iiattening means by the said means. rlhe adjustment of the turret for can bodies of Vdifferent lengths, is enabled by the adjustability of the standard 10. The fillers to be inserted between the turret sections are themselves sectional, and are held in place by the turret sections and the fixing of the standard l0. The improved machine is adapted to operate on relatively short can bodies, or upon relatively long can bodies.

What is claimed as new is l. A machine for flanging the ends of tubular can bodies, including a conveyor having seats for the bodies, and flanging mechanism moving with the conveyor and operated by the movement thereof, centering arms for clasping the end of the body to form an abutment at a selected distance from the end, said arms being pivotally connected and normally spring pressed away from the body, and means cooperating with the arms to first move them into operative position and to afterwards flatten the portion of the body extending beyond the arms into contact with the arms.

2. In a machine of the class described, a shaft, a. turret on the shaft consisting of similar sections keyed to the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, the sections having seats for the can bodies, clamping arms on each section for forming an abutment encircling the adjacent end of the body, means for cooperating with the abutments to flange the ends, supports on the shaft for said means, said means being operated by the movement of the shaft, and the support for one of the said means being movable with respect to the shaft to enable adjustment of the turret sections away from each other for different lengths of can bodies, and fillers to be inserted between the sections.

8. In a machine of the class described, a pair of pivotally connected centering arms movable to engage about a can body between the ends thereof and to provide an encircling abutment at a selected distance from the end, and mechanism cooperating with the abutment to iange the portion of the body eX- tending beyond the arms, said arms normally spring urged to open position, and means in connection with the cooperating mechanism to move them into operative position.

4. A can body flanging machine comprising a turret having pockets to receive the can, a pair of clamping arms pivotally mounted adjacent to each pocket and having can gripping formations, flanging heads corresponding to each pocket, located at opposite sides of the turret and mounted to rotate therewith, means for advancing and retracting the heads, and means carried by the heads for operating the clamping arms.

5. A can body lianging machine comprising a turret having pockets to receive the can, a pair of clamping arms pivot-ally mounted adjacent to each pocket and having can gripping formations, flanging heads corresponding to each poclret, located at opposite sides of the turret and mounted to rotate therewith, means for advancing and retracting the heads, and means carried by the heads for operating the clamping arms, and registering means also carried by the flanging heads and interengaging with the clamping arms to maintain them in clamping position during a flanging action.

6. A can body flanging machine comprising a turret having pockets to receive the can, a pair of clamping arms pivotally mounted adjacent to each pocket and having can gripping formations, Hanging heads corresponding to each pocket, located at opposite sides of the turret and mounted to rotate therewith, means for advancing and retracting the heads, and means carried by the heads for operating the clamping arms, flan ging elements mounted for radial movement in the heads, and means for moving the elements radially after inward movement of the heads to form the can anges against faces of the clamping arms.

.7. The structure defined in claim t with the addition that the can engaging formations of the clamping arms are in half-oval form to maintain an oval can with its long axis in radial position.

8. The structure defined in claim l with the addition that the can engaging formations of the clamping arms are in half-oval form to maintain an oval can with its long axis in radial position, and the flanging elements are shapel in accordance with the oval contour of the can body.

9. A can body flanging machine comprising standards, a shaft mounted thereon, spaced head supports slidably keyed on the shaft, flanging heads on the supports arranged in opposed pairs, a two part turret on the shaft with its parts arranged for axial movement in accordance with can length and connected to rotate with the shaft, the turret parts having corresponding can pockets and clamping arms adjacent the pockets, a spacer applicable about the shaft between the turret parts, and means for moving one of the standards to permit turret and head support adjustment.

10. In a can body flanging machine, in combination with a rotary pocleted turret and flanging heads mounted in opposed pairs at opposite sides of the turret to rotate therewith, a supply chute comprising parallel channel guides directed toward theturret, and can feed regulating means comprising rockers adjacent the channel guides, each rocker having upper and lower pins which are alternately projected into the can path between the guides to alternately engage within upper inner surfaces of oval cans moving between the guides and suspend the cans with their long axes Vertical, and deliver them singly and successively to the turret pockets.

1l. ln a can body Hanging machine, in combination with a rotary pocketed turret and Hanging heads mounted in opposed pairs at opposite sides of the turret to rotate therewith, a suppljY chute comprising parallel channel guides directed toward the turret, and can feed regulating means comprising rockers adjacent the channel guides, each rocker having` upper and lower pins which are alternately projected into the can path between the guides to alternately engage within upper inner surfaces of oval cans moving between the guides and suspend the cans with their long axes vertical, and deliver them singly and successively to the turret pockets, and means rotating with the turret to operate the rockers.

l2. ln a can body Hanging machine, in combination with a rotary pocketed turret and Hanging heads mounted in opposed pairs at opposite sides of the turret to rotate therewith, a supply chute comprising parallel channel guides directed toward the turret, and can feed regulating means comprising rockers adjacent the channel guides, each rocker having upper and lower pins which are alternately projected into the can path between the guides to alternately engage within upper inner surfaces of oval cans moving between the guides and suspend the cans with their long axes vertical, and deliver them singly and successively to the turret pockets, cam followers connected to the rockers, and cams on the Hanging heads to operate the followers and the rockers.

18. The structure of claim 9 wherein a sectional chute is disposed above the turret and connected to said standards, one section of said chute being movable with said movable standard.

Signed at Baltimore in the State of Maryland this Sth day of August, A. D. 1928.

HENRY HERMANI. 

